Public Servant Flees from Politically-Motivated Turmoil

The eve of Sierra Leone’s controversial June 2023 elections witnessed untold harassment and violence against public servants suspected of sympathizing with opposing political parties.One such victim is Mrs. Suad Turay, a Procurement Specialist who narrowly escaped an attack allegedly orchestrated by supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People\s Party (SLPP).On the night preceding the elections, a group of irate youths dressed in SLPP party colors vandalized Mrs.

Turay’s home and set her car valued at $21,000, ablaze. The attackers also targeted her family, including her husband, children, and a pregnant sister who sustained injuries requiring hospitalization. Despite reporting the incidents to the Sierra Leone Police, no arrests have been made; raising concerns about the enforcement of justice and the rule of law in Sierra Leone.Sources within the Integrated Health Project Administration Unit (IHPAU), where Mrs. Turay worked for over five years, revealed that the attack was allegedly facilitated by her male boss, a known SLPP operatives and loyalist. Prior to the incident, she had been subjected to workplace harassment, intimidation, and isolation.

It was reported that her boss had threatened her with politically motivated dismissal if she did not comply with his demands to align with the ruling party.Further reports indicate that SLPP-affiliated thugs continued to harass and intimidate Mrs. Turay and her family even after the elections.

This harassment has left her in constant fear for her safety. Anonymous sources within the Ministry of Health corroborated her experience, disclosing the presence of SLPP agents within government offices who covertly gather information about employees’ political affiliations and loyalties, which are then used to exert pressure or intimidate non-compliant individuals.By September and October 2024, Mrs. Turay and her family were subjected to repeated attacks by unidentified groups, prompting her to resign from her position out of fear for her life and that of her family. This resignation underscores the growing challenges faced by public servants who are perceived as politically neutral or oppositional in an increasingly politically polarized environment.The situation has raised alarm among human rights advocates and civil society groups, who call for immediate intervention to address politically-motivated violence and ensure the safety and protection of all citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations.